Even as the Bombay High Court is yet to take a final decision on the fate of the Esplanade Mansion, bringing down the 150-year-old building could rob a cluster of others in Fort of the title of being a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which they received in June 2018. UNESCO told mid-day that if Esplanade Mansion is demolished, they are likely to send a team to evaluate whether the remaining cluster of buildings deserves to retain the inscription of 'Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai'.

Esplanade happens to be the third site in the city with the tag, following the Elephanta Caves and CSMT. In the ongoing legal case, MHADA submitted a notice of motion in HC last month asking for permission to demolish Esplanade based on recommendations made by IIT-Bombay in their structural audit report.